The Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, is reminding Western Massachusetts Catholics to include prayers for peace in the Middle East during their weekend services.

The reminder refers to Pope Francis' appeal that Catholics, around the world, pray for peace in the Holy Land, along with their other intentions. The pope is holding a "prayer summit" in the Vatican Gardens on June 8, that is scheduled to be attended by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Shimon Peres. During his recent Mideast visit in Bethlehem, Francis had invited both men to "join me in heartfelt prayer to God for the gift of peace."

Ecumenical Patriarch of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Bartholomew of Constantinople, has also been invited to attend.

Prayers at the summit, its importance regarded as mainly symbolic, will be from the three Abrahamic faiths -- Judaism, said in Hebrew; Christianity, in English, Italian and Arabic, and Islam, Arabic. According to media reports, their themes will be creation, forgiveness and peace.

All four leaders are expected to speak, and then plant an olive tree, traditionally a symbol of peace.